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High-tech magic: How does Sonalleve MR-HIFU use ultrasound to fight off fibroids?
In the past, the options for women with uterine fibroids were often painful surgeries such as hysterectomy or fibroid removal. However, with the advancement of medical technology, the emergence of the Sonalleve MR-HIFU system provides these women with a non-invasive treatment option, which is undoubtedly a medical revolution.
Technical Overview
Sonalleve MR-HIFU is a medical system developed by Philips Healthcare specifically designed to treat uterine fibroids. The system uses high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR) technology, so that the treatment process does not require surgery. At the heart of this process is volumetric heating of the fibroids in the body, with feedback tracked in real time.
Sonalleve High Frequency Focused Ultrasound uses a special transducer to focus the ultrasound beam on fibroids in the body in a focused manner to effectively treat them.
Equipment Approval
The Sonalleve System has been approved for the treatment of uterine fibroids in Europe, most of Asia, the Middle East and South America. The CE mark it obtained is equivalent to the US FDA approval, which indicates that the product meets the basic requirements of various countries in terms of health, safety and environmental protection. Philips has also applied for FDA approval, and clinical trials and research are ongoing.
Treatment Procedure
The Sonalleve MR-HIFU treatment procedure is more comfortable and faster than current traditional methods of treating uterine fibroids, such as hysterectomy. The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis, and the patient can leave the hospital on the same day and will be observed for up to 24 hours. The entire procedure is divided into three stages:
Planning Phase
Patients will undergo a three-dimensional MR imaging evaluation to determine their eligibility for treatment. If the criteria are met, further evaluation and a treatment plan will be arranged. During the treatment, the patient must lie on the MRI table in a prone position to ensure good acoustic coupling.
Non-invasive treatment phase
High-intensity ultrasound beams are focused on the fibroid, raising its temperature and causing the tissue to coagulate. Each treatment session will vary depending on the size and number of fibroids, but will be closely monitored to ensure accuracy and effectiveness. If the patient experiences discomfort, the procedure can be aborted immediately via the handheld device.
Efficacy verification stage
After treatment, the effectiveness of the procedure is evaluated using contrast-enhanced MR imaging to determine the nonperfused volume (NPV), which represents the volume of tissue that is not supplied by blood flow.
Treatment settings
The Sonalleve MR-HIFU system is built on multiple high-performance components, including: Achieva MR system, MR-compatible treatment table, and HIFU treatment console that calculates real-time temperature maps.
Benefits of treatment
For doctors, it provides easy planning and immediate feedback on treatment options; for patients, it is a non-invasive treatment mechanism that does not require anesthesia and has short recovery time.
Available locations
The Sonalleve MR-HIFU system is currently installed in about 50 treatment devices around the world, including seven systems installed in five cities in India, providing Access to those who need it. This shows the growing popularity of the technology in recent years.
Will this high-tech magic become the new standard for women's health management in the future?
